Permanent Cirque du Soleil Show to open in Macau

ZAIA has been unveiled as the name of the very first permanent Cirque du Soleil production set to open in Asia. ZAIA will be presented at the Venetian Macau­Resort-Hotel in Macau and will hold its Gala Celebration August 28, 2008 to coincide with the 1st Anniversary of the host hotel, with preview performances beginning July 26, 2008.

Cirque du Soleil is a Canadian-based global entertainment company providing high-quality artistic entertainment. Cirque du Soleil productions have played to almost 80 million spectators in over 200 cities on five continents. In 2008, Cirque du Soleil will present 18 shows simultaneously throughout the world. Each production fuses innovative acrobatics, theatre, dance and music with spectacular costumes, lighting and make-up. Cirque du Soleil has successfully toured 13 cities in Asia, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei and Shanghai with Big Top productions but ZAIA will be the first production to be housed within a permanent theatre in the region.

“We are extremely excited to bring this unique show to the Cotai Strip as our first permanent step in China,” said Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil. “The creative challenge is very interesting for us as this area has yet to be developed for its entertainment offers. Thanks to our partnership with Las Vegas Sands, we are anxious for Asian audiences to discover this Cirque du Soleil production.”

The title, ZAIA, comes from a Greek name meaning “life” and is also reminiscent of “Gaia,” the living, self-aware, spirit of earth.

The show,  ZAIA, is about a young girl who journeys into space on a strange, yet familiar voyage of self-discovery. As she travels, she encounters the beauty of humanity and eventually brings it back with her to share with the inhabitants of earth.

ZAIA will present a young girl’s perception of the stars and planets, space and infinity, all populated by a panoply of fantastic, literally out-of-this-world creatures. ZAIA is a show that highlights dance, movement and aerial acrobatics, soaring to the farthest reaches of space and human beauty.

ZAIA will be presented in a custom-built 1,800 seat theatre at the Venetian Macau-Hotel-Resort. The combined cost of show creation and the custom-built theatre for ZAIA is in excess of US$150 million.

The preview period for ZAIA will be from July 26, 2008 to August 27, 2008. During this preview period there will be no shows on Mondays and Tuesdays and the show schedule will be irregular.

The Gala Premiere is scheduled for August 28, 2008. Regular performances will begin August 29, 2008.

Regular performances for ZAIA will run Tuesday through Sunday. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays the show time will be at 8p.m. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays the show times will be at 7p.m. and 10p.m. On Sundays, shows will be at 4p.m. and 7p.m. There will be no shows on Mondays.

Tickets go on sale today and cost MOP$1288, MOP$788, MOP$588, MOP$388. Children's (12 years and younger) ticket prices are MOP$688, MOP$488, MOP$288.

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